Team-work puts murderer behind bars for life

Great things can be achieved by working together as a team.

In South Africa, we often hear a lot about criminal cases that go up in smoke and suspects walking free because of lack of evidence.

It is not often that you hear about a murder case solved in less than a year after the victim was killed.

In May 2015, the NEWS reported about a woman who was brutally killed by a contractor who was working at her home.

On February 11, the suspect was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 15 years for robbery.

69-year-old Ms Sandy Paroniti was found murdered in her Thornhill Estate home in Modderfontein on May 20, 2015.

At the time, Sergeant Sharon Mahamba-Tsotsotso of the Sebenza SAPS, told the NEWS the woman was allegedly killed by a contractor installing cupboards in her home.

The woman was found tied up, strangled and her wrists cut. Sgt Tsotsotso said the woman’s daughter became worried when she could not get hold of her mother when she tried to phone her.

She decided to drive to her mother’s house to check on her. When she arrived, her car was not there and she assumed her mother was not home. When she returned later she became suspicious when she saw people waiting for her mother outside and called security. The estate’s security called the police and broke into the woman’s home. On entering the house, they discovered the woman’s body.

The NEWS sat down with the four investigating officers who worked tirelessly to ensure that the victim and her family received justice.

Captain Tau Paul Mogoboya, Constable Moyahabo Bennie Matlopela, Sergeant Kgomotso Malatswana and Constable Sabelo Nkosi reacted immediately after receiving the call about the murder and worked around the clock to bring the suspect to book.

Capt Mogoboya said during the preliminary investigation, it is always important to get as much information as possible.

“During the early stages of any investigation, it is crucial to get whatever bit of information, because if we had not done a thorough job in those first few hours after getting the call, I don’t think we would have been able to crack the case as fast as we did,” said Cpt Mogoboya.

He said when they arrived at the scene, they found the woman tied up with no signs of life.

The detectives received information from the gardener who worked at the estate and followed the lead.

Sgt Malatswana said the information they received from the gardener led them to Tsakane, where the suspect was arrested.

“When we arrived in Tsakane, the suspect was home with his wife as if nothing had happened. The victim’s vehicle, which was stolen along with other items belonging to the victim, was parked outside,” said Sgt Malatswana.

He said the suspect’s clothes also had traces of blood on them which were later tested for DNA. It was found that the blood belonged to the victim.

The suspect took them to a house where a television set stolen from the victim’s home was found.

“Because of the thorough investigation, we managed to arrest the suspect and get a confession within hours after the murder was committed,” he said.

“We are very happy with the sentence. The murder was senseless and cruel. He took advantage of an old woman who was alone and we had to find him,” said Cpt Mogoboya.

Sgt Malatswana urged home owners to be vigilant when they hire someone to work around the house.

“There must be another person in the house with you if there is someone who is coming to do some work around the house,”said Sgt Malatswana.